EVANSVILLE, Ind. – The Illinois State volleyball team (20-5, 12-1 MVC) went to its first fifth set match of the 2018 campaign on Saturday night, pulling out its eighth-straight win against the Evansville Purple Aces (8-18, 2-11 MVC). Â
QUOTING COACH JOHNSON
On the team's serving…
 "Over the course of the match, our serving game was very effective. We were able to change serving targets, and we know that one of their strengths is their serve and pass game, but I felt like we were fairly even with them tonight."
On team's blocking presence at the net …
"Their (Evansville) entire left-side game plan is to tool the block, and they scored a lot of points off of that tonight, but we stayed focused and blocked balls back into their side to force them to take second swings. It was good to be able to earn our own blocks as well."
On Ali Line's career night…
"Once again, we had a different player leading us in kills from the match before. Ali (Line) hit .500 with 19 kills and no errors, and that really made a difference for us tonight. She played with a go-to-it mentality, because she knew she could get points for her team and that was big for us."
HOW IT HAPPENED
Set 1 >> The Redbirds jumped on the board first and never lost their lead in the opening frame. Illinois State settled into its serve and pass game early, as Ali Line and Stef Jankiewicz notched a pair of service aces to have the Redbirds sitting at a 10-6 lead. Jankiewicz helped push Illinois State to a 13-8 advantage with her second service ace of the match, before Kaylee Martin's second kill of the match in the next point forced Evansville to use its first timeout. Martin and Marissa Stockman teamed on the block out of the break, as the Redbirds jumped out to their largest lead – seven points – to sit at a 16-9 advantage over the home team. Evansville responded with a 3-0 scoring run, but a service error by the Purple Aces put the ball back into the hands of the Redbirds. With the Purple Aces sitting within three of the Redbirds, Illinois State called a timeout with a 17-14 lead. Out of the break, Monica Miller tallied her second kill to reignite Illinois State's offense. The Redbirds closed the opening frame on an 8-0 run, to take the opening set 25-14, making it the eighth-straight match Illinois State has taken the first set from its opponent.
Set 2 >> Evansville opened on a 7-3 run to start the second set, as all three points came off of kills by Miller, who was up to a team-high of five in the match. Back-to-back dumps by Jankiewicz had the Redbirds within two, and Evansville's fourth service error kept Illinois State within reach. The Redbirds leveled the set at nine-all on Martin's fourth kill of the match to add pressure to Evansville and force the Purple Aces to use a timeout. Out of the break, the Purple Aces took their lead back, holding a 15-11 advantage over Illinois State. A kill by Martin brought the Redbirds within three, and a block by Miller and Stockman, kept Illinois State on the Purple Aces' heels. The Purple Aces captured the second set, 25-18, to level the match at one-set apiece, despite the Redbirds hitting .310 overall in the match.
Set 3 >> Illinois State bounced back in the third, as Martin tallied a dig and a kill to push the Redbirds to a 6-2 lead and Evansville timeout. The Redbirds continued to run out of the break, stretching their lead to six points, behind Line's eighth kill. Evansville began to chip away at Illinois State's lead, coming within two points, but the Redbirds were able to reach a 12-6 advantage with Line behind the service stripe. Evansville was forced to call a timeout, after Lexi Varga's fifth kill pushed Illinois State to a 17-10 lead. Illinois State kept its cushion the remainder of the match, securing the third set, 25-16.
Set 4 >> A big kill by Varga, followed by Illinois State's fifth service ace – this time by Courtney Pence, led to an early 4-3 lead by the Redbirds. Evansville responded with a 3-0 scoring run to take a one-point lead over the Redbirds, but Line's 11th kill knotted the set at seven-all. The teams continued to exchange points back-and-forth, as Carley Nicholson's second service ace evened the set at 15-all. The Purple Aces pushed ahead for a two-point lead, forcing the Redbirds to call a timeout. A kill by Stockman brought Illinois State back within one, but Evansville reached 20 first for a 20-18 advantage. The Purple Aces were forced to use a timeout, after Line's 13th kill tied the set up once again, this time at 21-all. With Evansville sitting at set-point, a kill by Line brought the Redbirds within one. A kill by Martin, paired with a block by Line and Jankiewicz, gave Illinois State the 25-24 lead to force the Purple Aces to call a timeout. Evansville narrowly edged the Redbirds, 28-26, to force Illinois State to play its first fifth set of the 2018 campaign.
Set 5 >> A pair of kills from Stockman and Varga, along with Pence's second service ace, helped Illinois State open on a 4-0 run, forcing Evansville to use a timeout early. Out of the break, the Redbirds continued to run, jumping out to a 10-2 lead, behind three kills from Line and a kill by Jankiewicz with Lexi Wallen behind the service line. A kill by Miller helped the Redbirds win their eighth-straight match with a 15-5 fifth-set victory.
LEADING THE FLOCK
UP NEXT
Illinois State will play its final two home matches of the season next weekend, when Drake and UNI come to Redbird Arena. Â
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